1. Testing period
Every VPN is tested for at least 30 days before review publication. We use paid accounts we subscribe to ourselves – never accounts provided by the provider.
2. Speed tests
We measure speed from a Swedish 1 Gbps connection to 5 standard destinations: Stockholm, London, New York, Tokyo and Sydney. Speedtest.net used with 5 measurements per server, average reported.
3. Security assessment
We review encryption (AES-256, ChaCha20), protocols, kill switch implementation, DNS leak protection (via ipleak.net and dnsleaktest.com), jurisdiction and any independent security audits.
4. Streaming tests
We verify compatibility with Netflix US/UK/JP, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video, SVT Play, Viaplay and TV4 Play. Tested at three times of day over a week.
5. Price analysis
We compare price per month on the longest available plan (usually 2 years), including VAT and any add-ons. Updated monthly.
6. Usability
We test apps on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Linux. Criteria: time to first connection, clicks to switch server, Swedish language availability and support response time.
7. Rating scale
We use a 1–5 scale. Final rating is a weighted average: 30 % speed, 25 % security, 20 % streaming, 15 % price, 10 % usability.
8. Updates
Reviews updated at least quarterly. Top list updated monthly. Major changes (security breaches, ownership changes, price shifts) lead to immediate updates.